The European Union has decided to allocate €1.4 billion to Ukraine. These funds will be generated from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets and will be fully dedicated to defense needs. This was announced following a joint statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Kornytsky.
Response to the escalation of violence
The decision to allocate such a significant sum was made against the backdrop of a new wave of Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure. Ursula von der Leyen emphasized in her statement that the EU can no longer stand aside from the destruction caused by Russian aggression.
"We are waking up again to news of terrible crimes committed by Russia due to its air attacks on Ukraine. Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused. And we are using the funds obtained from immobilized Russian assets to ensure this," noted the head of the European Commission.
Position of the Ukrainian government
Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Kornytsky confirmed that the process of transferring funds has already been launched. In his comment, he emphasized that the aid will be directed towards strengthening defense capabilities and enhancing the resilience of the state.
"The funds will be used to strengthen defense and bolster the resilience of our state. The response to Russian terror must be the strengthening of Ukraine. Russia must pay for every new crime. Thank you to all our European partners for their principled stance. This gives us strength," Kornytsky wrote.
Consequences of the August 5 attack
The direct cause for such decisive steps was a massive combined strike launched by Russia on the night of August 5. The attack involving missiles and drones affected Kyiv and surrounding regions, causing serious damage to both civilian objects and logistics.
Fires broke out at warehouses and residential buildings in the capital, and dozens of people were injured. The situation in the Kyiv region proved even more tragic: 14 people were killed in the Brovary, Bucha, and Fastiv districts, with another 30 injured.
Strikes on logistics centers in Brovary led to the suspension of train traffic. Additionally, a sorting center of "Nova Poshta" in Kyiv was destroyed by cluster munitions, paralyzing postal services in several regions.
Impact on the economy and business
The scale of the attack affected enterprises, supply chains, and retail networks across the country. In this regard, Prime Minister Serhiy Kornytsky announced the urgent convening of meetings with business representatives to assess the damage and develop support measures for the affected economic sectors.
